Universal joint



UNIVERSALy JOINT. APPLICATION F'lLED NOV. 15. 1919.

UNITED ia-TENT oifF BERT o, RHODES. or KALii-iuezoo, MICHIGAN. N f

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed `November 15, 1919.-* Serial No. 338,265.

peller shaftfandinstalledfin a motor vehicle ters refer to lsimilar y Second, to provide an improved universal jointofsimple and durable structure..

Third, to provide an improved universal joint which is simple andv economical .in structure and at they same time strong and durable and easily lubricated.

Further objects and objects relatingV to structural details will definitely appear from the detailed `description to follow.

I accomplish the objects of my invention by thedevicesand lmeans described in the following specification. The invention is clearly defined andpointed outin the claims. l.

A structure which is a ypreferred embodimentA of my invention isclearly illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of thisspecication, in` which:`

Fig. I is a detail elevation of 'a structure embodying the features of my invention.

Fig. II is an enlarged vdetail view mainly 'in longitudinal section showingV detailsof the journals and bearings ofvone of the joint members.y 'v

Fig. III is an enlarged detail. view partially in longitudinalsection on a line corresponding to line ei-s3y ofFig. I showing details of the journals `andbearings of the other joint member. l j

In thedrawing similar reference characparts throughout the several views, and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the little arrows at the ends of the section lines.

Referring to the drawing, the joint member l has a disk-like body portion adapted to be connected to the flange 2 of .the shaft 3 which is represented as the'transniission shaft of a motor vehicle. The joint mem-L ber 1 .is connected to this flange by means of; the bolts 4. The joint member 5 is tubular and adapted to receive the propeller shaft of a motor vehicle, being provided with internal splines 6 fondriving engagementlwith `iiange's 15jat y IA provide an the journal pin the same and permittinga longitudinal sliding movement of the parts. v

The joint member lfis provided with a pair of arms 7 having aligned holes 8 there'- in for the journal pin 9 secured in the arms as by-means of the which is removably pinsv Specication of Letters Patent. Patented 30, 1922.

l0. The pin is secured in the arms so that its journals rig. iii.

The

bushings nals 13 thereon. journals are provided ywith bearing being secured against rotation by means of the pins l16.

11 project as clearlyshown in'` `The joint member 5 is provided.,` with fork-like arms 12 having integral jourf 14 having out-turnedv their inner ends, these bushings* onthe'j ournaly The bearing members '17 lhave outwardlyf projecting flanges 18 at their inner endsfcov Il t acting with thesev flanges'l tovrece'ive the thrust of the joint. The bearing members 17 project beyond the ends of the journals and are provided with-caps19, the bearing' membersk being internally shouldered at'20 to receive the caps which are sheet metal stampings, the bearing members then being permanently retaining themv members.

.in the bearing spun or crimped over' the capsat 21, thereby" i The caps are provided with open# j' :t These4 bearing members and` the lbushings maybe formed-as stampings or--dicicastings and easily case-hardened'.` They may `be easily renewed resultsin great economy yin manufacture and very materially section .may be slipped over the end of the joint member thus providing for the readf `ily assembling'of the parts notwithstanding the disk-like form of the bodymember 1.

This arrangement of-parts permits theas-v sembling'l of the `universal joints with the propeller shaft. there usually as occasion requires, which" 9 isp-removed. The other` being a joint adds to the life ofthe joint. l

annular coupling member formed of lsections, 24secured together PrO-"Ii at each end thereof, and the lassemblingthereof in` a motor vehicle as shafts ofthe vehicle. This is a decided adjoints in the shop or factory,

'ay unit as; the'v joint members 1 may loe-readily connectedto- .the flanges of the transmission and driven iio y being adapted to in the assembling of the vehicle. lt also permits the assembling and final testing 'of the joint by Workmen especially qualified and with devices especially adapted to that end. The bea-ring parts are electively lubricated, it being found that the lubricant is effectively retained and that a small amount is sufficient for perfect lubrication for quite a long time. j

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:v

l. In a universal joint, the combination of a joint member comprising a disk-like body'portion adapted to be connectedivith a flange of a coacting shaft and having a pair of 'journal pin arms, a journal pin removably .secured in said arms With its journals projecting, a second joint member prof vided with atubular body portion having internal splines for sliding engagement with a coacting shaft and having arms provided With integral journals, bushings having outwardly projecting flanges at their inner ends non-rotatably secured to said journals, an annular coupling member formed of detachably connected sections having opposed recesses constituting bearing member seats, one of said sections being adapted to be slipped upon and to be removed from the arms of the first mentioned joint member When the journal pin is removed, the other be slipped vover the second mentioned joint member, and bearing members clamped in said seats and having flanges `at their inner ends coacting with the flanges one of said sections being adapted to bey slippedupon and to be removed fromthe arms of the first mentioned joint member when the journal pin is' removed, the other being adapted to be slipped over the second mentioned joint member, and bearing members clamped in said seats and having flanges at their inner ends coacting with the flanges of` said bushings, said bearing members havingv caps closing their outer ends and being extended beyond the journals and constituting lubricant receptacles.

3.. In a universal joint, the combination of a :joint member comprising a disk-like l movably secured having a pair of journal pin having arms provided body portion adapted tobe connected with a flange of a coacting shaft andy having a pair of journal pin arms, a journal pin rein said arms with its journals projecting, a second joint member provided With a tubular body portion having internal splinesv for sliding engagement With a coacting shaft and having arms provided with integral journals, bushings non-rotatably secured to said journals, an annular coupling member formed of detachably con-f` nected sections one of which is adapted to be slipped upon and to be removed from the l l when the journal pin is removed, the other being adapted to be slipped over the secondv farms of the first mentioned joint member-,

mentioned joint member, and bearing ilmemv bers carried by said coupling, said bearing members having caps closing their outer ends and being extended beyondthe journals and constituting lubricant receptacles;

Li. In a universal joint, the combination -ofajoint member comprising a .disk-like body portion adapted to lbe connected'with a' flange of a ycoacting shaft and having a pair of journal pin arms, a journalpin removably secured in said arms With its journals pro jecting, a second joint member provided With a tubular body portion having internalV splines forsliding engagementwith a coacting shaft and having arms provided With in- 'tegral journals, bushings non-rotatably Secured to said journals, anf annular coupling member formed of detachably connected' sections, oiie of Which isadapted to be slipped upon and to' be .removed from the armsl of the the iirst mentioned Vjoint-member when the journal pin is removed, the other being adapted to be slipped over, the second mentioned joint member, and bearing members carried by said coupling member.

5. ln a universal joint, the combination of a joint member havingv a pair of journal v pin arms, a journal pin removably secured in f said arms With itsv journals projecting, a' second joint member having arms provided with integral journals, bushingsnon-rotatably secured to said journals, anannular' coupling member formed of detachably connected sections, one of which is adapted to be slipped upon and tobe `removed from the arms of the iirst mentioned joint member When the journal pin is removed, the other being adapted to be slipped over the second mentioned joint member, and bearing members clamped between said coupling member sec# tions.

ln Witness whereof l. have hereunto set my yhand andy seal in the presence of two Witnesses. l

BERT O. RHODES. `[1.. s l

Witnesses: v I l GRACE B. THOMPSON,

LORENA G. SUMMERS. 

